About the Donor
Frederick “Freddie” Artz (1894-1983), Oberlin class of 1916, was a visionary historian, professor, and book collector with a teaching career at Oberlin College that began in 1924, and spanned nearly fifty years.
Frederick Artz in his study
New York Times Obituary from July 21, 1983
An historian and francophile, began his love affair with that culture while he served in the Ambulance Corps during World War I.
Artz would overcome graduate school resistance to his growing interest in the new field of Intellectual History, and go on to teach a pioneering class in Intellectual History that was for many Oberlin students a memorable highlight of their academic coursework. Artz published many highly respected books on French and European history, particularly Intellectual History. A complete biography and finding guide to Artz’s personal papers have been published by the Oberlin College Archives, and there are several books about Artz with a biographical focus.
Artz's personal papers are avaliable at the Oberlin College Archives